Lubricating apparatus



Dec. 12, 1944. L cH 2,364,894

LUBRICATING APPARATUS Filed'lrune 25, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. E. L. Finch.

Dec. 12, 1944. F|NH 2,364,894

LUBRICATI NG APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 12, 1944 Edgar L. Finch. Glendale. Calif assignor to B. F. B. Engineers, Incorporated, a corporation of California Application June 25, 1943, Serial No. 492,209 3 Claims. C1. 184-55) This invention relates to a lubricating apparatus. 1 The general object of the inventionis to provide an improved method and apparatus by means of which lubricant will be supplied to a pneumatically operated tool such as a hammer,

riveter, etc, l

A more specific object of my invention is to provide an improved means for introducing a lubricant into the compressed air being supplied to a pneumatic tool.

A further object of my invention isto provide a novel pulsating lubricator.

An additional object of my invention is to provide a novel lubricator including a member which 'pulsates under various pressure conditions of the fluidin which the member is immersed and in performing thev pulsating action causes slight quantities of material to be released into the fluid.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

. Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pulsating lubri 1 eating apparatus embodying the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a central sectional view through the lubricator; v

.Fig. 3 is a central sectional view through the capsule;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5, Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary. central sectional View, with parts in elevation, showing a modification of my invention;

Fig. '7 is an elevation, with parts in section, showing a further modification;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation, with parts in section, showing a further modification, and

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9--9, Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, I have shown my invention as embodied in a pulsating lubricating apparatus which is indicated generally at Hi. My apparatus is particularly adapted for lubricating the working parts of pneumatic tools such as pneumatic riveters, hammers, etc. Tools of this nature are operated by compressed air from a suitable source, usually by means of a flexible hose, and my invention is arranged in some portion of the conduit between the source of compressed air and the working part of the tool,

In Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, my apparatus is arranged in the hose portion of the conduit. This hose, indicated at H, engages the ends l2 of a body l3. The hose ends are held in place by suitable clamps [4. The body l3 includes a hollow, transparent, cylindrical main portion l5 and an end portion l6 threaded as at H. to the main portion I5. The ends l2 are provided with apertures l8 while the main portion M has a central bore 19 communicating with the apertures 18. At the inner end of the member I6 and the inner end of the bore [9 remote therefrom spaced inwardly directed pins 20 prevent a capsule H from impeding flow through the conduit.

The capsule 2| may be made of any suitable material, such as gelatin or various plastics, and it comprises an inner member 22 and an outer member 23 which have ends 24 and 25 respectively. The portions 22 and 23 telescope and slide one upon the other. The end 25 is provided. with an aperture 26 through which the end 21 of a wick member 28 extends. The capsule 2| receives a charge of lubricant 29.

In use, the capsule 2| is placed in the bore 19 and the pneumatic tool is used in the usual manner. When tools of this character are connected to theservice line pressure builds up in the conduit when the tool is not operating. As soon as the tool starts operation the pressure drops somewhat thus decreasing the pressure in the bore [9, When the operation of the tool is stopped the pressure in this bore again increases. As a result the pressure within the bore I9 is continually changing and thus the pressure on the capsule constantly changes. This causes a very slight relative longitudinal movement beoil gradually works outwardly and each time the slight telescopic movement occurs a small amount of oil is wiped along the part 22 by the end 3| on the member 23. This action is somewhatsimilar to the action of a piston ring on a piston.

The air passing through the bore 19 engages the oil on the portion 22 of the capsule and thus small quantities of oil are carried by the compressed air to the working parts of the tool. The exposed end 21 of the Wick becomes moistened with the oil and the air passing over this portion taken some of the oil from the wick end 21.

In Fig. 6 the body member 49 has a threaded end 4| which directly engages a threaded portion 42 on the body 43 of, the pneumatic tool. The body 49 is similar to the body l3 except that at one end it has a transverse pin 44 to limit the movement of the capsule 45 instead of having the pins 20 at both ends. The body 40 is closed by a member 46 which is similar in all respects to the member l6 previously described except that its end is threaded as at 41 and is connected by a coupling 48 to the conduit portion 49 to which a valve control member 50 is connected. The particular construction of the parts 49 and 50 form no part of the present invention. The capsule 45 is similar in all respects to the capsule 2| previously described except that it is shown as shorter and of somewhat greater diameter relative to its length.

In Fig. 7 the body 50 of a pneumatic tool has a conduit therein and in this conduit I arrange a capsule 52 similar in all respects to the capsules 2| and 45 previously described. The conduit 5i has a'transverse bar 53 to limit movement of the capsule 52 in one direction. The conduit 5! is connected by a fitting 54 to a coupling 55. The coupling 55 is connected to another portion of the conduit shown as a hose 55. The fitting 54 is clamped by a collar 51 upon a threaded neck 58 on the body 50. A transverse pin 59 in the fitting 54 limits the movement of the capsule 52 in a direction away from the tool The body portion 50 is provided with a threaded aperture 60 in which a transparent plug BI is secured. This plug being transparent the operator can observe the capsule 52 and determine when the oil has been used up.

In Figs. 8 and 9 a conduit 65 includes fittings 66 which connect it with a body 6'! which has a bore 88 therein. The bore 68 is connected by conduits 69 and ID with an offset conduit H. The conduit 69 includes a valve 72 which has an operating stem 13 (Fig. 9) thereon by means of which communication from the conduit 69 may be controlled.

The bore 68 includes a protuberance 14 which tends to restrict passage through the bore 68 so that when the valve 12 is opened a portion of the compressed air in the conduit 65 will pass through the bore 69 into the conduit TI and thence to the conduit 10.

Within the conduit 1| I provide a lubricating member 15. This member may be made of compressed fiber, cotton, or other oil absorbing material and it is so designed that the compressed air passing over the member 15 will take up some of the oil therefrom and thus carry this oil to the working parts of a tool which is connected to the conduit 65.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have invented a novel pulsating lubricating apparatus which can be economically manufactured and installed and which is highly elficient for its intended purpose.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

L A lubricator comprising an elongated,

hollow member having a bore therethrough and a lubricant container in said bore and comprising a pair of hollow telescopic members adapted to readily slide one upon the other and adapted to contain a lubricant, said lubricant container being free for movement in said bore, and means adapted to connect the lubricator to an air passageway of a pneumatic tool to be lubricated so that an increase of air pressure in the bore will cause said telescopic members to move together to thereby discharge lubricant between the overlapping ends of the telescopic members.

2. A lubricator comprising an elongated, hollow, cylindrical member having a main bore and having a reduced bore at one end communicating with the main bore, the body at the other end being internally threaded, an end portion having a reduced threaded portion engaging the threads in said body, said end portion having a reduced bore therein communicating with the main bore, and a. lubricant container in said main bore and comprising a pair of hollow telescopic members adapted to readily slide one upon the other and adapted to contain a lubricant, said lubricant container being free for movement in said main bore, and means adapted to connect said member to an air passageway of a pneumatic tool to be lubricated so that an increase of air pressure in the main bore will cause said telescopic members to move together to thereby discharge lubricant between the overlapping ends of the telescopic members.

3. A lubricator comprising an elongated, hollow, transparent cylindrical member including a body having a main bore and having a reduced bore at one end communicating with the main bore, the body at the other end being internally threaded, an end portion having a reduced threaded portion engaging the threads in said body, said end portion having a reduced bore therein communicating with the main bore, said end portion and said body having spaced integral pins extending into said body bore, and a lubricant container in said main bore and comprising a pair of hollow telescopic members adapted to readily slide one upon the other and idapted to contain a lubricant, one of'said telescopic members being imperforate, the other selescopic member having an aperture therein, a wick arrangedin said aperture and extending from a point without said other telescopic member to a point within said other telescopic member, said lubricant container being free for movement as a unit in said main bore, and means adapted to connect said member to an air passageway of a pneumatic tool to be lubricated so that an increase of air pressure in the main bore will cause said telescopic members to move together to thereby discharge lubricant between the overlapping ends of the telescopic members.

EDGAR L. FINCH. 

